Do experienced techs use manuals?

[Albert van Zyl]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

Always RTFM !!! otherwise you get a ID 10 T problem

[kingarthur]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

In my experience, it's the less experienced techs who don't use the manuals, they tend to rely on the more experienced techs to read them for them....I use them all the time & go on the manufacturers website at least once a week to check bulletins etc....it's seems strange that I have all the manuals & most of the bulletins....but my colleagues don't & don't know how to use the manufacturers website..

[Debs1964]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

I did 3 calls today and had to open my laptop on all 3 calls, the first and last ones had error codes that I needed to look up, and I upgraded firmware on the second call. Sometimes I can go days without the need to use it at all, but then you get days like today

[mikadonovan]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

That information is more effectively saved in spreadsheets, rather than tying up valuable processing braincells. =^..^=

What few we have left, anyways

[Debs1964]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

What few we have left, anyways

I didn't have many to start with

[slimslob]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

That information is more effectively saved in spreadsheets, rather than tying up valuable processing braincells. =^..^=

What few we have left, anyways

I didn't have many to start with

I seem to have less every year, or at least it takes longer to locate what is stored in them.

[fixthecopier]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

It occurred to me that the worst folks for not using the manuals are the customers. I can't count the number of calls I have done that involved doing something the customer could have done, or answering a question by asking them where their manual is.

I used to have a copier that sat in front of a Sergeant Major's desk. He was a real nice guy. A couple of times I had a ticket that involved me going into his office, sitting at his desk across from him, exchanging greetings while I reached under the cabinet to grab the user manual, look up the setting he wanted changed and make the adjustment. I never once told him to look it up, because he was a Sergeant Major and because it counted as a completed call.

[Zaxxon]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

No, experienced techs never use manuals, but they very often lie ;-)

[mikadonovan]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

No, experienced techs never use manuals, but they very often lie ;-)

Bullshit, speak for yourself. As a tech, honesty with my customers is important, and they appreciate it.

[Zaxxon]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

Bullshit, speak for yourself. As a tech, honesty with my customers is important, and they appreciate it.

Ok, it was a joke...

[slimslob]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

Bullshit, speak for yourself. As a tech, honesty with my customers is important, and they appreciate it.

Me thinks he be talking about us.

[Phrag]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

Hate to resurrect a dying thread, but I have to add something;

I constantly cross reference parts numbers between different models (ie: C280 -> C452), mainly for fans, or clutches which more often then not are the exact same between models, and series.

Occasionly, I'll look up some codes if the call comes in while I'm in the office and double check that what I think it is, is right.

They're good to have, even if you haven't used one yet, because the day will come when you need it, and you have no way to access it.

[xtrain]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

I rarely need manuals in the field. Here's why

1. Reoccurring issues.

The one blessing of a copier tech. We've seen the exact problem before, we fix it, case closed.

2. Obvious issues

Nothing new here. Copies smudge and ghost. Fuser is shot. Ok replace fuser.


3. Service mode clues.

Failure code C-123? No idea what it is? Go into service mode, pull up a counter of service codes. There it is a with a written description... C-123=Main Motor.

4. Annoying suggestions.

Example: Transport Jam. Manual says "Replace transport motor, or transport clutch, or transport sensor, or main board. No shit, notice they will never say one-way gear or worn bushings or unseated spring, etc. Yea, yea, yea I know manuals aren't written for every variable, hence why I'm writing this.

4. Knowledge Bases. For example Konica has a Knowledge Base. Contrary to reason #3. Knowledge bases give you the real answer based on Konica techs contributions. This is always checked first.

5. Memorizing part numbers or keeping a go-to list of common part numbers.

6. I believe service manuals are biased. The manufacturer doesn't want to reveal their flaws. They will never update them with REAL WORLD solutions.

I am the first to tell a lazy tech to RTFM, but as an experienced tech I find myself looking elsewhere.

(by the way this doesn't include theory manuals, which are actually useful)

The only techs that use manuals or electronic documentation are those that want to repair the equipment properly. Only a "shade tree mechanic" would try to repair problems on newer electronic machines without proper documentation.

[Phrag]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

The only techs that use manuals or electronic documentation are those that want to repair the equipment properly. Only a "shade tree mechanic" would try to repair problems on newer electronic machines without proper documentation.

I disagree. Partially. For common issues on machines I'm familiar with, looking at the manual isn't necessary. With new models, most codes seem to carry across.

Sometimes, if you followed the manual to the letter, you could spend thousands replacing parts/checking diode operation on boards, when it could be as simple as a broken 5c spring.

Combining Technician experience, with manuals and CTN and cross referencing them all is the best way to go I think.

We try not to leave it at super-gluing the broken plastic bit back. If we can, we use a second hand known-to-be-working part, or failing that, order a new one. If the 2nd hand part is sketchy, we order a new one.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Do experienced techs use manuals?

Hate to resurrect a dying thread, but I have to add something;

I constantly cross reference parts numbers between different models (ie: C280 -> C452), mainly for fans, or clutches which more often then not are the exact same between models, and series.

Occasionly, I'll look up some codes if the call comes in while I'm in the office and double check that what I think it is, is right.

They're good to have, even if you haven't used one yet, because the day will come when you need it, and you have no way to access it.

I feel exactly what your saying .
I'm in the process of putting together a massive cross-reference data base using many different makes and model machines. It is part of a bigger project that's been sitting on the back-burner for some time, I just need a new dose of enthusiasm...